Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.

Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns.

How Do I Know If Someone Is on Percocet?

Like so many of the most abused and addictive drugs, Percocet is an opioid painkiller. This prescription drug contains oxycodone and acetaminophen, and it’s sued for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. The oxycodone contained in Percocet is the opioid component, while acetaminophen is not a narcotic but does make the pain relieving properties of this drug more effective.

Much like illicit opioids such as heroin, drugs like Percocet have a high likelihood of abuse because of their addictive habit-forming properties.

Drugs like Percocet and other opioids bind to the opioid receptors in the brain which are responsible for controlling not only pain but also emotions.

When someone first starts taking Percocet, they will likely feel a euphoric rush and a general sense of well-being. This is because of the production of the feel-good hormone in our bodies, dopamine.

One of the reasons so many people abuse Percocet, even when they start out with a legitimate prescription, is because the body quickly builds a tolerance to the use of this prescription opioid. When that happens, the euphoric rush fades unless higher amounts continue to be taken. Even at that point, it’s not likely to create the same feelings it did initially.

There are spouses, family and loved ones of people throughout the country everywhere from the major cities to rural areas that wonder how to tell if someone is on Percocet, or what the warning signs of a Percocet addiction or dependency are.

Opioid abuse and dependence, including on Percocet, has become such a huge issue in the U.S. that it’s being called an epidemic, and it’s important for people to educate themselves on the signs of someone on Percocet so they can try and find ways to help them, especially as overdoses and deaths are on the rise.

Signs of abusing Percocet don’t necessarily have to mean someone is addicted to this prescription drug or dependent on it, although abuse often leads to these occurrences.

The abuse of a drug like Percocet refers to any situation in which someone is taking a prescription medication in a way that’s intentionally misused. This could mean taking Percocet that’s not yours, taking more than your doctor tells you to, not taking the drug as it’s prescribed to you, or trying to find doctors to give you more Percocet without knowing you have prescriptions from other physicians.

If you see any of these signs of Percocet abuse, it can be a red flag that an addiction or dependency is already happening or is likely to occur.

Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.

Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.

What’s important to understand about Percocet abuse and abuse of any prescription drugs is that it’s not something that only impacts one gender, one socio-economic group, one race or one age group. It’s a widespread problem that has many factors which have contributed to the issue, from the increasing availability of these drugs to job loss in many areas of the country.

People will often abuse Percocet for any number of reasons including the desire to feel more at ease in social environments, to reduce boredom, to escape their life, or even to get attention from the people around them.

The exact physical symptoms and behaviors of someone on Percocet can vary depending on their personal body chemistry, the length of time they’ve used the drug and how much they use, but there are some general warning signs someone is on Percocet that may be observed.

When Percocet is taken in large doses, particularly for the first few times, it creates a high that’s similar to heroin. As mentioned, this includes euphoria, but also an increased sense of pleasure, as well as calmness and relaxation.

Along with these desired signs of Percocet use, there are also negative side effects that can occur, which are similar to what often happens with other opioids.

If you have a suspicion that someone around you is using Percocet, it can be difficult to spot the particular physical signs like the ones listed above. Instead, it can be more apparent when overarching behavioral signs start to show in the person’s life. An individual who is addicted to prescription painkillers like Percocet will often display characteristic behaviors and lifestyle shifts that are visible to the people around them.

The first sign someone is abusing Percocet and may be addicted to it is using more of it than they’re prescribed, even if they do have a legitimate prescription. Often people who are chronic users of Percocet will collect several doses of the drug to take all at one time for a more powerful high.

Another behavioral sign someone isn’t just on Percocet but has a Percocet problem is taking the drug any other way than what’s directed, which is orally. For example, if someone is prescribed Percocet tablets, but they crush them and snort them, this is a big red flag of Percocet abuse. When someone snorts Percocet, it can lead to a faster and more powerful effect, but it’s also more dangerous and increases the chances of an overdose.

People who are dependent on prescription drugs like Percocet may become adept at hiding their use from the people around them, particularly the short-term side effects. Over time, however, there are long-term signs of Percocet use that may become more easy to spot.

These can include withdrawal symptoms if someone misses a dose of Percocet. Withdrawal symptoms associated with Percocet can seem like the flu and include muscle pain and weaknesses, a sense of anxiety or panic, dizziness, and extreme fatigue.

Long-term dependence and abuse of Percocet can also lead to liver failure because it contains acetaminophen, and there is the risk of an overdose.

Signs of a Percocet overdose include extreme sleepiness, trouble breathing and respiratory issues, blue-tinted lips and skin, clammy skin, loss of consciousness and potentially a coma.

Percocet addiction is a serious problem, and often people don’t see it that way because it is a prescription drug. They feel like using Percocet is okay since it’s something given by doctors, but as overdoses and deaths continue to rise throughout the U.S., it’s important if you do see the signs of being on Percocet among a loved one that you contact an addiction facility or specialist.

Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.

Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.